HEADLINES
BIG 4 ALL WIN, BUT ONLY JUST FOR CASTLE ~ EASTWAY KEEP ON FORM ~ MONKSTOWN STING SCORPIONSEastway 10-4 Teddy Bears
Greenisland 2-12 Spartans
Rockers 14-0 Valkyries
Scorpions 5-9 Monkstown
Barbarians 6-8 Castle
MSC Trojans 12-2 Alpha
Pirates 11-3 Whitehead Trojans
Pirates 11-3 Whitehead Trojans. Pirates Captain Roy McMurtry's team talk was not to underestimate The Trojans, and this was shown to be wise councel as the visitors raced into a 2-0 lead. But the Pirates are a resilient side this season with their new summer signings and they soon had it back at 2-2 after Frame 4. In the next it was Trojans Captain Gordon McCormick who restored his sides lead. But thats where it ended for the away side, as it turned out to be their last win of the night. Wins from A.Corrigan and R.McMurtry put the Pirates 4-3 ahead at the interval. Although the hosts won all 7 frames in the 2nd half, some of them could have gone either way. 2 frames from S.Carson, including a fantastic black down the rail, sandwiching 1 from older brother Chris put the Pirates on the hill at 7-3, and it was soon all over as P.McCaffrey won the next. Further strikes from C.Carson, A.Corrigan and H.McMurtry sealed the scoreline and kept Pirates joint top of the table on 12 points.
Barbarians 6-8 Castle. In a rerun of last weeks Cup match, Barbarians hosted the Castle in this League match. Castle were looking for a similar result of the scoreline but Michael Lowry's Barbarians had other things in mind. P.Roberts looked to have got Castle off to a winning start but ran out of position on the black. Castle old boy G.Harrington continued his stirling form against his old club by edging balls into a clearable position before finishing it off. A.Toner won a tit for tat safety game against veteran campaigner H.Regan to level at 1-1, but wins from M.Porter and Regan himself in a scrappy frame against C.Howard, gave the hosts a 3-1 advantage. J.Meredith scored for Castle but M.Lowry potted a great last yellow to make it 4-2 Barbarians. Porter with his 2nd gave the home side a somewhat 5-2 interval lead against Derek Whiteside's League Title hopefuls. Castle were under the cosh but like so many times before came out fighting. McCorry edged out Regan after a tactical exchange before Irwin done similar to reduce the arrears to a single frame. Howard potted a great black to level at 5-5 and Irwin with his 2nd ripped out a fine finish to put Castle ahead for the first time in the match at 6-5. Toner guaranteed Castle at least a point with a trademark finish as Castle led 7-5 now. But back came the Barbarians with a solid win from Harrington to ensure the destination of the points would not be decided until the final frame. It looke like the hosts had earned a point, but debutante J.Regan narrowly missed the black in Frame 14 and the experience of Meredith finally got Castle over the line at 8-6. Barbarians after a poor start to the season can hopefully build on this performance and Castle are very much in the title hunt as we head into the 7th League match next week.
Scorpions 5-9 Monkstown. Monkstown started off better than they could have hoped for, racing into a 4-0 lead courtesy of R.Henderson, G.Russell, P.Henderson and P.Charles, but still didn't take anything for granted. D.Millar and W.Smyth reduced the arrears but R.Henderson with his 2nd win of the evening kept the away team in the driving seat as Monkstown led 5-2 at the interval. Scorpion J.Nelson won the opener of the 2nd half but G.Russell with his 2nd restored the 3 frame advantage. The next 4 frames were shared, J.Nelson again and C.Rafferty for Scorpions and R.Nelson and R.Henderson (hat trick) for Monkstown who now led 8-5 securing the 3 match points. P.Henderson won the final frame of the night for the visitors as they move up to 5th position in the table.
MSC Trojans 12-2 Alpha. MSC Trojans moved up to 8th in the table with a convincing win over basement team The Alpha. They won both sessions by a 6-1 scoreline for an overall win of 12-2. On song for the hosts were, D.Montgomery (3), A.McMeekin (3), J.Murdock (3), A.Mackey (2) and R.McMaw (1).
Rockers 14-0 Valkyries. Table toppers The Rockers easily defeated The Valkyries in Whiteabbey RBL in this League fixture. And in the process they have done their frame difference no harm at all by completing a whitewash of 14-0 against the bewildered visitors. On the scoresheet were W.Lewis (3), R.Butler (3), P.Harris (3), A.Arbuthnot (3) and J.Johnston (2).
Greenisland 2-12 Spartans. With Greenisland having moved up to 6th position in the table there was always the chance of an upset in this fixture. But Spartans set out their stall early on racing into a 4-0 lead. The hosts claimed the 5th with an 8 ball clearance from D.Baird but E.Martin restored the advantage with a pinpoint break and dish. Spartans then moved up a gear winning 7 out of the next 8 frames for what turned out to be a comfortable victory. On the scoresheet for Tommy Maguires men were, E.Martin (3), K.English (3), E.McDowell (3) and R.Hawkins (3). Baird and Morrison replied for Greenisland.